Eso Es.......Identity!!!!!

You may be wondering how I got myself in the audience of a Chilean gameshow this afternoon.....
I have been wondering the same thing.

This one is for Lindsay since I know how much she has always wanted to punch a pigeon.

Mi familia!

In my haste to get all the photos up from the trip, I forgot the most important one. I took this photo right before I left. I do have to say that it in no way reflects the true personalities of my family here. They are always laughing and joking but seem so serious when the camera comes out.

From left to right is Jorge with Lulu, Jorge, Diego, me, Marcela with Pascuala and Felipe.

Argentina, in a few brief words....

So I have been putting off posting anything about my trip because the task seems so huge. How do you sum up 2 weeks in another country? So I have decided to resort to a picture montage with some clever footnotes. If you have curiosity beyond said photos, please inquire within....

First stop: Hostel Lao in Mendoza, Argentina. I strongly suggest staying there if you are ever in the area.
Astor, the keeper of Hostel Lao. These two scraps on his giant paws are the only remainder of one sad leaf he carried around for 3 days in hopes that someone would play with him.
Bikes and Wines: sounds like a good idea until you are 3 glasses in and have to bike uphill in gravel.
Next stop, Cafayate, Argentina. Lovely little town.
Great view, I suppose, if you are into the whole gorgeous landscape thing.
And I assume everyone is aware, that ain't coffee in those cups.
And so begins my true fascination with the llama.
Why did the llama cross the road? I don't know, he didn't say.
Salt flat trickery...
My little familia de llamas.
La Boca in Buenos Aires. Tourists' paradise. It is a tango amusement park.
Things I can't eat while violently ill on holiday.
I guess I am just lucky they had puree of pumpkin on the menu.
Could not have dreamed up a lovelier birthday morning. Gifts from Honni and Luke PLUS flowers and songs from the entire hostel staff.
Sickness put on hold for a most delicious birthday dinner of meat, meat, meat!
Insert envy here _______.

Obviously not my best vegetarian smile.
Sinister meat eater.
The dessert you see before me is the Argentinian version of Straberries Briand. Heaven.
Older, yet somehow, still immature.
And finally back to Chile and a day trip to Valparaiso with Luke. This little gem has been visited by Anthony Bourdain himself.
How about a little clam appy with a pisco sour? Hmmmm?
Full of seafood and happy.
My family finally returned from their trip, of course with a new pet in tow.
I have been teaching her how to bite Felipe.

Back in business....

Well, I am back from Argnetina after two weeks. It was a great time and I have plenty of pictures to share but before I start my retrospective on the trip to Argentina, I would just like to take this moment to wish Lindsay a very happy birthday. Although it may seem that I forgot yesterday or was not kind enough to call or write, I want you to know that I celebrated your birthday all day yesterday in Valparaiso (see pictures below).....

Here we are at the port in Valpo. A lot of action here!
When we got to Valpo, I thought to myself, "Where would Anthony (Bourdain) go?" My 6th sense lead me here,
where we actually found a giant picture on the wall of him with the owners. Delicious seafood. Lindsay enjoyed every bite!
Since it was her birthday, we let Lindsay have a balloon animal. Can you find her???

Mindless in Mendoza

So we made it here this morning in record time and had no idea what to do in a city where we know nothing at 5.45am. So we waited for sunlight and set off for Hostel Lao which I had read about in several blogs as the place to stay. They were all booked up online but noted that they always save room for walk-ins, so luckily, there was no line at 7am. We have secured 3 nights in the most lovely little hotel with a pool and severl hammocks (which Luke has to sleep in tonight btw). We wandered around town but didn´t really have the energy to do much as we each clocked around 3 hours of sleep. So we hit the grocery store, stocked up on bread, cheese, membrilla (quince paste or nectar of the gods) and a very cold bottle of white and settled in at the dining room table for a lovely little feast. Honni and Luke are now sleeping off the bus ride in our double room while I jumped at the opportunity for a dip in the pool and a little nappy-poo in a hammock. I have no idea what time it is but really don´t care. I think we might hang around here to see what happens in the evening as there are whispers of an asado(bbq).

I must mention that my ENTIRE family piled in to the car last night and drove me to the bus station to meet my friends. They waited around to make sure I was taken care of and delighted Honni and Luke with several stories and hugs and kisses. Honni and Luke reassured me that I definitely win the prize for the best host family. It is my host brothers 18th birthday today so I feel little bad for leaving before the celebration but will try and find him something here to make up for it. He loves anything about commercial airliners as he one day wants to be a pilot so I need to snoop around for something of that nature. Oh, and I finally did get a snapshot of the entire family yesterday and will upload it as soon as I find a computer that will read my card. I must preface the picture by saying it in now way reflects their spirit and humor. They apprently are a little camera shy.

Going to do the day long wine and bike tour tomorrow and am looking forward to it!

Hope all is well stateside and will try to keep you all posted as I travel along this Argentinian road....

Concha y Toro y pantuflas gigantes....

So today after school we took a bus out to the Concha y Toro vineyard. It is a lovely property with vines as far as the eye can see. The tour was short and amazingly easy to understand. The grounds were immaculate and the cave was spotless. Our guide talked more about the history of the vineyard more than the actual process from grape to wine. My interests would have liked the more invasive tour but it was still quite enjoyable and we ended up tasting a chardonnay and their award winning 2007 cabernet. The bus ride home was a little confusing as I had missed the part about visiting a royal palace in the city on our way back. So I was discombobulated when we were shuttled off the bus into the palace and asked to put giant slippers on. It's as if they had known exactly what I was talking about when I mentioned that the amount of bread and salt they eat here makes my feet feel like two giant baguettes when I walk. (see picture)

Tomorrow we have yet another field trip to some other fascinating place I am sure, although I have lost track of which place that might be. Then if my Spanish is not failing me, we only have Thursday left for class and will officially be graduates of the Spanish in Chile program. Our time has flown by and while we have gathered many memories together already, I am sure there are more to come.

Lady of the Garden.
GrapesGrapesGrapes
Barrels in the cave.
Y, alas, the pantuflas gigantes.

La Floja

So I did not end up surfing. It was about 40 degrees colder in Pichilemu than it was in Santiago and the waves were quite daunting. A few people from my group ventured out but did not last long. So most of the weekend was spent on the beach in full clothing or in the courtyard of the house we stayed in. People doubled up in beds to stay warm at night since the temp dropped to the low 50's and there were no heat sources. But the meals were outstanding and hanging out with the group was worth it. We played cards and drank wine and laughed a lot. Saturday was one of the best lunches I have had in a very long time and the bbq that evening was more meat than I have ever seen in one place. Bonded with with Marisol who was there to help the family for the weekend prepare our meals and make sure everything was good. She was hilarious and kind. As we were leaving, she brought out some jewelry of hers to give to me and Honni. We were very thankful and felt bad that we had nothing for her in return. Last week in school this week. We have a few more field trips planned and a celebration at the end. Then Honni and Luke and I are off to Argentina for a couple of weeks. No set plans but ideas in mind....

Me, Luke, Marisol and Ryan. She wanted pictures with all of her favorites.
Heaven.
Boating anyone?
Pensive llama. Possibly my favorite photo of all time.